Around the NFC
Baker’s delight: How about Baker Mayfield? Guy shows up in Los Angeles with barely enough time to catch an Uber from LAX to the Rams facility and then leads a 98-yard, game-winning touchdown drive against the Raiders on Thursday night. One of the more improbable happenings in the NFL this year. He will likely be the most interesting thing about Denver’s trip to SoFi Stadium for a Christmas Day matchup between two teams that haven’t come close to meeting preseason expectations.
Purdy tough task: The San Francisco 49ers looked like Super Bowl contenders the past few weeks in the NFC with a fearsome defense and a group of skill players including George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk and others. But losing a second quarterback to injury – this time Jimmy Garoppollo to a broken foot – means the task of running the offense now falls to Brock Purdy. Can he do enough to keep the 49ers in the Hunt?
House of Cards: If the Broncos and Rams are battling it out for most disappointing team in the NFL, Arizona likely checks in not far behind. The Cardinals are home underdogs Monday night to 6-6 New England and have lost six of their past eight since beginning the season 2-2. Head coach Kliff Kingsbury just got an extension before the season, but his seat is likely feeling pretty warm.
Around the AFC
Change in Tennessee: The first general manager opening of the current year is…. In Tennessee, where the Titans are in control of their division and headed to the playoffs again. Very odd, but Tennessee decided now was the time to move on from GM Jon Robinson. Not something seen often for a franchise with the recent success the Titans have had, but the job will undoubtedly attract attention.
Von’s year ends: A brutal blow for former Broncos great Von Miller and for Buffalo this week when doctors determined he did actually tear his ACL. That led to season-ending surgery. Not only is that a rough way for a splendid season to end for Miller himself, but it could change the power structure in the AFC. Thatap the kind of debut season in Buffalo Miller was having.
MVBurrow?: Alright, an MVP this year might be going a bit far for Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow considering the way Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes, among others, are playing, but Burrow can still make a run at the award down the stretch. Since they started 0-2, the Bengals have won eight of 10 and Burrow has thrown 22 touchdowns against four interceptions and run for five more scores. And Cincinnati just knocked off Kansas City again. The Bengals are a real threat.
Game of the Week
Philadelphia at New York Giants
The Giants remain a game ahead of Seattle and Washington in the loss column by virtue of their Sunday tie, but are going to have to find a few more wins in order to make the playoffs. Itap a tough road, too, considering after the Eagles they visit Washington and Minnesota back-to-back. Philly, meanwhile, continues to fly a game ahead of the Vikings and in possession of a head-to-head tiebreaker. Jalen Hurts is playing excellent football and his supporting cast ain’t bad, either.
Eagles 27, Giants 20
Lock of the Week
Houston at Dallas
Everything’s bigger in Texas, including the betting lines this week. The Cowboys, who scored 33 points in the fourth quarter last week, are 16-point favorites over the one-win Texans. Houston is returning to Davis Mills at quarterback this weekend, so they’ve, uh, got that going for them. Dallas, meanwhile, has scored 40-plus in three of its past five games. They should be in position to put another big number on the board this weekend.
Cowboys 38, Texans 10
Upset of the Week
Minnesota at Detroit
Nobody trusts the Vikings, including Vegas, as the 10-2 squad enters Sunday 2.5-point underdogs to the 5-7 Lions. Minnesota is 9-0 in one-score games and has just a plus-10 point differential on the season, but hey, they’re 10-2 nonetheless. The Lions are improved this season under head coach Dan Campbell and their offense, coordinated by Ben Johnson, is fun. Maybe Jameson Williams makes a splash as he gets more playing time. But Minnesota’s found ways to win games all year and they can clinch a playoff spot, too.
Vikings 28, Lions 27
